Quoting: GenW
Too many mistakes from this team to even count anymore. I feel like for the first time in forever, though, we have competence up front. It really does feel good and I can see a clear picture into the future
You know I completely agree.
Jason Karmanos IMO is the catalyst.
Everything changed when he became Associate GM.
Note the title, not assistant, associate.
In addition to the above mentioned UFA's, look at the Rochester line up.
A very nice blend of young players Krebs, Quinn, Peterka, Laaksonen, Samuelsson, Murray and Luukkonen (both of the last two with the Sabres) and veteran leadership Mersch, Malone, Prow, Davidson, Houser, and Jankowski (now with the Sabres also)
Last year under Adams the Amerks missed the playoff after three consecutive years.
They are back in business this year.
I judge the Sabre GM by how well the Amerks perform.
They also missed the playoffs all three years Murray was the GM.
The AHL team has to do well so the young players develop a winning attitude.
EDIT
TBH, I had that same feeling Botterill's first year.
He made great moves which prompted the Hockey writers to predict the Sabres would make the play offs.
His last year, he made too many errors starting with hiring Krueger, ending with trading Scandella essentially for Frolik.
Only getting a 4th for Scandella was really bad but turning that 4th into Frolik was worse.